The Cavaliers could pick between Turkey's Enes Kanter, pictured, and Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas with the fourth pick in the NBA draft on Thursday.
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The Cavaliers could pick between Turkey's Enes Kanter and Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas with the fourth pick in the NBA draft on Thursday.

Both players are 19 years old and stand slightly taller than 6-foot-11. But that's where the similarities end.

If Valanciunas' buyout is completed before the draft, multiple sources indicate the Cavs are leaning toward taking the 245-pounder. However, if the snafu is still hanging over his head, then the 259-pound Kanter could be the pick.

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First of all, there's an outside chance Kanter will be selected No. 2 by Minnesota or No. 3 by Utah.

Kanter appears to be a safer pick than Valanciunas for the Cavs. He's ready to play right now. His offensive skills and physical development are further along.

Then why would the Cavs select Valanciunas?

His ceiling appears to be much higher. Once it all comes together for the Lithuanian center, he could become an All-Star.

"They're both risks," ESPN analyst Chad Ford said. "They both have upside. I think if you picked Kanter, you're picking because he is a bit more polished offensively right now, and he has a better NBA body right now.

"If you pick Valanciunas, you're picking upside. You're picking a guy who I know many NBA scouts feel in five years could end up being the best player in this draft, but he's got a long way to go to get there."

Valanciunas has two years remaining on his contract with Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania. His agent, Leon Rose, is trying to negotiate a buyout so that he can come to the NBA this year.

"He can't leave unless he has a buyout," Ford said. "Everyone is confident it will work out. (Rytas) needs money. They don't want to miss out on a couple million euros.

"If (there's no buyout), he'll slip in the draft. There's no way the Cavs can take him at 4 if he can't come over."

Kristofer Habbas, who writes for NBAdraftinsider.com, said if no buyout is reached, Valanciunas won't drop past Charlotte at No. 9.

Habbas said he remains high on Valanciunas, but he said he thinks Kanter makes more sense for the Cavs.

"You know what you're getting with Kanter," he said. "He has classic size. He's a quality shooter. I don't think he has the upside (that Valanciunas has). I love Valanciunas."

Ford said everything points toward the Cavs taking Valanciunas at 4. He was measured at 7-foot, 245 pounds at the Adidas Eurocamp this week in Treviso, Italy. He has a standing reach of 9-3 and a wingspan of 7-4.

"He's longer," Ford said. "He's taller. He's got a good motor on him. NBA centers are so difficult to get your hands on. It's a bit of a risk. I think that given the Cavs and their situation and the fact that they already have the No. 1 pick in the draft, they'll probably take someone safe like Kyrie Irving. They can afford to gamble a little bit more. I would say they'd probably go with Valanciunas."

ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said he'd lean toward Kanter if he was making the No. 4 pick.

"I would probably take Kanter because of his size and strength," he said. "There are a lot of things I love about Valanciunas. The one thing that bothered me -- and again, he was only 18 when he played this year in the Euroleague -- he was very much manhandled by strong, physical, European centers.

"I've got a sneaking suspicion that because of Kanter's combination of size, athleticism and skill level -- and I do think at this stage he's a bit more skilled than Valanciunas -- I think Kanter's a little safer play for me."

Fraschilla is a bit weary of Kanter's lack of playing time. He was ineligible at Kentucky this year.

"He's like Bigfoot," he said. "There have been sightings, but not many.

"This is a guy who didn't come out of nowhere. He's always been terrific player at his level in Europe. He was one of the youngest players to play in the Euroleague. How well have your international scouts tracked him? There's not a large resume for Enes, but it's fairly solid. It's not hard to gamble on 6-11, 260."

Ford also has concerns with Kanter.

"My concern is he has not played at a high level for a couple years," he said. "We're basing a lot on one game in the Nike Hoop Summit.

"It's a big leap for anybody, including the top college players, let alone somebody who hasn't been on the floor competitively for a couple of years. That is the risk with Kanter. I like him, but that is a significant risk you have to factor in."

Timberwolves' thinking

Joe Kotoch, a Cleveland-based sports agent and editor of probasketballdraft.com, said he doesn't buy into the premise that Minnesota will take Arizona forward Derrick Williams at No. 2.

"If Minnesota keeps that pick, I think they'll take Kanter," he said. "He would complement (Kevin) Love. Williams is not a significant upgrade over (Michael) Beasley."

If there's a position where the Timberwolves have talent, it's at forward with Love, Beasley and Wesley Johnson. Their starting center for most of the season was Darko Milicic. Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn's team must show significant improvement on the court this year or he could be out of a job.

"If they are drafting purely for themselves, I think they'll want an upgrade at center," Kotoch said.

Most experts think the Timberwolves will take Williams, even if they don't necessarily need him. He could be used as an asset, similar to what New Jersey did last year with Derrick Favors.

Kotoch said it's possible Kanter could also go No. 3 to Utah.

"Utah likes him," he said. "They've worked him out."

Draft chatter

o The Cavs have made several inquiries about dealing the No. 4 pick. It seems they'd love to get their hands on Irving and Williams, which would be a home run in this draft. In order to do that, however, they'd probably have to sacrifice either J.J. Hickson or Anderson Varejao, which probably won't happen.

o The Cavs are rumored to be in the hunt for an additional first-round pick. Here are some possible targets in the first round, a source said: No. 18 (Washington), No. 20 (Minnesota), No. 24 (Oklahoma City), No. 26 (Dallas) and Chicago's two picks (Nos. 28 and 30).

o Even though Providence shooting guard Marshon Brooks didn't work out for the Cavs when he was in town on June 10 because of an ankle injury, they supposedly really like him. He could step in and start from Day 1. They don't have a player like him on the roster, a high-volume shooter. Keep your eye on him in the draft.

o The Cavs originally thought they might be able to draft Brooks in the second round at No. 32. That thought process is long gone. He's expected to be picked midway through the first round.

o The Wizards are very interested in Williams and/or possibly Kanter. They'd love to move up from No. 6. They also have the 18th pick. However, they aren't expected to make center JaVale McGee available in trade talks.

o As much as some would like, Williams isn't going to be on the board at 4. If he doesn't go No. 2 to Minnesota, Utah will take him at 3.

Rumor mill

o If the Cavs select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, as expected, then veteran point guard Ramon Sessions will be expendable. He'll likely be used as trade bait, possibly to get back a late first-round pick. Teams like having three players who can play the point on their roster. If Sessions is traded, Daniel Gibson could fill that role behind Baron Davis and Irving.

o One of the biggest names in free agency -- if the lockout doesn't wipe it out -- will be Mavericks center Tyson Chandler.

Quick shots

o Guard Trajan Langdon, a former first-round pick of the Cavs, announced his retirement after winning the Russian championship for CSKA Moscow.

o Which Cavaliers has the latest Fathead? None other than 14-year-old Nick Gilbert, the son of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Nick was the star of the draft lottery in Secaucus, N.J., in May. The cost is $99.99. Proceeds to to the Children's Tumor Foundation.

Information for the NBA notebook was gathered by personal interviews. Finnan can be reached by e-mail at: rfinnan@MorningJournal.com. Follow him on twitter at BobCavsinsider.